LONDON: Part-time spinner Marcus North stunned record-chasing Pakistan with a maiden six-wicket haul as Australia won the first Test by 150 runs at Lord`s on Friday.
North took six wickets for 55 runs in 18.1 overs as Australia, in the first neutral Test played in England since 1912, won with more than a day to spare.
Pakistan were then plunged into fresh turmoil when captain Shahid Afridi -- after his first Test in four years -- said he would quit the five-day game after the second and final match of this series starting in Leeds on Wednesday.
Afridi`s men chasing a target of 440 that would have surpassed the highest Test fourth innings victory total of 418 for seven made by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2002/03, were bowled out for 289 before tea on the fourth day.
Victory gave Australia a record 13th straight successive Test victory over the same opponents, although Sri Lanka`s run of 12 wins in a row over Bangladesh is also still ongoing.
Pakistan were still in the game, albeit facing a tough task, at 186 for two with vice-captain and left-handed opener Salman Butt on 92, when North struck first ball after being brought on shortly before lunch.
North began with a seemingly wayward ball that drifted down the legside.
However, Butt overbalanced out of his crease and was smartly stumped by debutant wicketkeeper Tim Paine.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting, explaining his decision to bowl North, told reporters: "The whole thinking behind it was, with two left-handers in, I just wanted to see if he could spin the ball away from them. As it turned out he got a wicket with his first ball and did not look back."
Butt, whose 63 was the one contribution of note in Pakistan`s meagre first innings 148, had attacked when given the chance, with 15 boundaries, as well as defending correctly when required in nearly four hours at the crease.
Few other Pakistan batsmen had so far suggested they were capable of achieving a similar balance.
Umar Akmal hoisted North for six but, trying to cut, edged to Michael Clarke at slip and was out for an insubstantial 22.
Pakistan were 216 for four at lunch, with Umar Amin - one of four debutants in the match - 31 not out.
But the left-hander had added just two to his score when, after the interval, he was caught at short-leg by Simon Katich to give North his third wicket.
And, four balls later, 227 for five became 229 for six when Afridi, on two, tried to slog North over midwicket but was instead caught on the boundary by Michael Hussey.
Even allowing for Afridi`s preference for big-hitting, the shot appeared highly irresponsible, especially given his role as captain.
"I`ve not been fully fit with a side strain and so I will not play Test cricket after the match in Leeds," Afridi told reporters.
"The coaches are trying hard with the batsmen but they - and I - need some more temperament to play Test cricket.
"Australia are very professional, very strong and we should be more strong from playing against these guys. Salman Butt played well but we should have got more partnerships as well."
Both Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Aamer struck boundaries off North and debutant leg-spinner Steven Smith during a stand of 54.
But the sense was they were merely delaying the inevitable for a Pakistan side without senior batsmen Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan, suspended following the 3-0 series loss in Australia earlier this year.
And so it proved when Kamran (46), hitting across the line, was bowled by Smith and shortly afterwards Aamer holed out to give North his first five-wicket Test haul.
North ended the game when he had Danish Kaneria caught by Ponting.
Australia, in a match where batsmen found runs tough to come by, were indebted to opener Katich for scores of 80 and 83.
Katich was named Australia`s man-of-the-match, with Butt winning the equivalent Pakistan award.
This series is being played in England because of security concerns in Pakistan.
BDST: 2400hrs, July 17, 2010
